Shine!
John 1:1–18
(NRSV)
In the beginning
was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He
was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through
him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come
into being in him was life, and
the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness did not overcome it.
There was
a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to
testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself
was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light,
which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
He was in
the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world
did not know him. He came to what was his own,
and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him,
who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God,
who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the
will of man, but of God.
And
the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory,
the glory as of a father's only son,
full of grace and truth. (John testified to him and cried out, ‘This
was he of whom I said, “He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because
he was before me.” ') From his fullness we have all received, grace
upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth
came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is God the
only Son, who is close to the Father's
heart, who has made him known.
